(A/N) I had a lot of fun with the last chapter I was kinda sad that I had to move on. lol But here ya go! :) (A/N)
Once he got to his house, he cleaned himself up and changed into a different suit.
As he was leaving his house, he checked his watch.
5:45 p.m.
He quickly got in his cruiser and left for Juliet's house.
About fifteen minutes later he pulled up into her driveway, but he noticed that Gus's care was parked on the side of the street.
He hoped that Shawn was just dropping something off and then leaving, but he knew that Shawn would most likely be staying the whole time since Juliet likes Gus and Shawn's obnoxious company.
Knocking on the door he could hear Shawn trying to be overly dramatic and laughing at himself.
A couple seconds later, Juliet answered the door.
"Hey Carlton! I'm so glad you came!" Juliet exclaimed as she took him by the arm and dragged him inside.
Then unexpectedly, she pulled him into a hug.
He didn't quite know how to react with such a swift movement, so he just stood there.
Looking over he saw Gus and Shawn in the kitchen eating sliced pineapple.
"About time you showed up! I was getting worried sick! I come home from work…and this is how you re-pay me back? By coming home late?" Shawn yelled sarcastically across the room.
"Isn't passed your bedtime?" Carlton replied annoyed and glaring at Shawn.
Juliet just rolled her eyes. She had gotten used to their love/hate relationship over the past four years.
Deep down, she knew Carlton didn't really hate Shawn, but she know that his childish attitude did cause Carlton to be on edge most of the time.
"C'mon you two…calm down," Juliet said with a smile.
Carlton looked at her and then back at Shawn.
He really didn't want to be there when Shawn was there, and it looked like Juliet was back to her old self.
"Well I just came here to check up on you…looks like you're doing fine. I guess I'll be going then, but if you need me, just call," Carlton said quickly so that he could have an excuse to leave.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Don't go Carlton. You just got here," Juliet said stopping him before he opened the door.
"Yes, and now I'm leaving."
"Just stay for a little longer…pleeease!" Juliet said folding her hands together.
Carlton looked around for a second before he gave in.
"Fine…but just a little longer."
Juliet gave him another quick hug and went over to the kitchen.
"Okay guys…you promised remember?"
"But Jules! We just got here too!" Shawn said almost whining.
"You got here three hours ago…I appreciate you coming here…I do. But now it's time for you to go."
"I hear that. I'll see you later Juliet. I'm glad you're doing well," Gus said as he gave Juliet a quick hug and headed for the door.
"C'mon Shawn! Time to go!" Gus said as he grabbed his jacket and keys.
"Just a little longer! I promise I'll be good!" Shawn said to Juliet.
"Nope. You have been voted off the island Shawn. I'll see you later this week though," Juliet said pushing him out the door.
"Ouch. The first time someone has voted for me…and I get kicked to the curb," Shawn said throwing his hands up in the air.
"Later Jules," Shawn said as he got in Gus's car.
When Juliet shut the door, Carlton was still standing in the same place.
"So…how long have they been here?" Carlton finally asked.
"Oh…since about three…I would say," Juliet replied, "they came here to say hi and to see if everything was all right. They told me about how you ran after the plane and yelled at everyone in the airport to get Yin."
"I didn't yell at everyone…just a few people," Carlton corrected.
"Anyways, they told me all about it, and you have no idea how relieved I am because of it!"
"Well I'm glad to see him finally behind bars where he belongs. And trust me when I say that he won't be coming out for a loooong time."
Juliet started to go up the stairs when she turned around and asked, "Have you had anything to eat yet?"
"Uh…no…not since this morning…why?" Carlton asked confused.
"Oh I was just thinking of going out to eat. How does that sound?"
"S-sounds great. Yeah…that would be good," Carlton replied not quite knowing what to say.
"Great. I'll be down in a sec," Juliet said walking up the stairs.
"I'll, just be here then."
When Juliet disappeared into her room, Carlton began to slowly pace around the room.
Where should we go? I didn't know we would go out to eat…wait…why does she want to go out with me when Spencer is always begging her to hang out with him. I mean I don't mind going out to dinner with Juliet, we do it all the time when we are on a case…why should this feel different? This shouldn't feel different…I'm going out with Juliet like I always do. It's just a dinner. I've known her for four years…I shouldn't be feeling like this. Why am I nervous?...Am I nervous?...No maybe not nervous…just…anxious? That's the same thing! Isn't it?...What the hell…
As Carlton was pondering his thoughts he noticed Juliet come out of her room. She was wearing her black outfit that she wore one day to the fashion show where Shawn and Gus posed as models.
"Wow," Carlton said gazing up at her as she came down the stairs.
Realizing that he accidently said it out loud he immediately looked away, hoping that Juliet didn't hear him.
Of course with his luck she was bound to hear him and notice that he couldn't take his eyes off her when she came out.
Juliet knew that he liked her outfit because he complimented on it the first time she wore it.
Although all he said was, "Is that a new outfit?" she knew that he meant it as a compliment.
When it comes to complimenting people, Carlton knows what to say, he just doesn't always know how to express it…unlike Shawn who says whatever is on his mind without thinking first.
Juliet couldn't help but give a little smirk when she noticed Carlton noticing her. She hoped that she wasn't overdressed, but she wanted to make sure that Carlton knew it was a special time with him.
He had just caught one of the most wanted criminals in Sana Barbara, and a criminal that tried to murder her. Nothing Juliet could do would make up for how grateful she was that he saved her…but not only that he had caught him the very next day trying to escape.
"Well…are you ready?" Juliet asked when she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Yep. Where too?" Carlton said trying not to act anymore awkward as he was feeling.
"I was thinking…Mario's…"
Carlton looked down into Juliet's sky blue eyes, "Are you sure? That place can get a little spendy…"
"Yes. I am sure. You need a break anyways. You've done above and beyond everyone's expectations lately, and it's time for you to have a little time for yourself."
"Oh…okay, well let's go then. I'll buy." Carlton said opening the door.
"Oh no! I'm buying. Think of it as a little thank you and congrats gift from me to you," Juliet said as she began to walk to the cruiser.
"I can't argue with that," Carlton said getting into the cruiser.
The drive there was peaceful. Juliet had only spoken a few times, but enough to where Carlton was irritated by having to listen to Juliet talk about her day when Spencer came to her house.
Once there they were seated they ordered right away and began waiting for their food to arrive.
A few minutes past in silence.
"So," Juliet said to break the silence, "Does the Chief want you in tomorrow for another case?"
"Actually no…she gave me a week off, and she wants us back to work on Thursday," Carlton replied.
"Oh wow! A whole week to yourself…how are you going to survive without working on a case?" Juliet said sarcastically.
Carlton gave a smirk after she was sarcastically making fun of him for being a workaholic.
"I honestly don't know…but my first thing that I'm going to do is sleep in tomorrow. I haven't been able to do that in…who knows how long…" Carlton thoughtfully said.
"That. Is. A great plan," Juliet smiled back.
"How about you? Carlton asked to keep the conversation going.
"Ya know…I just might do the same thing…I haven't been able to do that since grade school I think. But I don't know about the rest…hey, do you wanna go to the beach, maybe sometime this week…I mean, unless you're busy or something…"
He smiled again.
"Yeah…sure, but wouldn't you rather do it with Spencer…he would probably be better company than me anyways…" Carlton said slightly uncomfortable.
He hated comparing himself to Shawn, but he knew that Juliet was more Shawn's type than his because she got along with him so well. Plus he knew that Shawn had always liked Juliet more than just a friend, even if he didn't say it upfront. Carlton knew that he didn't have to be a psychic to see that in Shawn.
"Eh…he probably would…but, I'd rather spend it with you…if you don't mind."
"Do you mind if I ask why? Don't you like Spencer?"
Juliet was taken back a little bit by Carlton's question. She doesn't really like to be put on the spot with those types of questions, but she couldn't back out now.
"I do like Shawn. A lot. He is a wonderful, funny guy…he can be a bit strange at times though…but I see him more like a little brother anyways. Besides…I don't think I would ever go out with him or anything…it would seem weird to me."
After hearing this Carlton silently gloated, imaging the look on Shawn's face as he would be rejected by Juliet.
"Oh…well I thought you liked him…so I assumed you would want to spend time with him. Plus I thought you two would end up together by the way you guys got along so well…I'm glad I was wrong," Carlton stated.
Juliet looked a little confused by what he said.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Well..." Carlton began awkwardly, "I just don't think he deserves you…"
Juliet glared at Carlton, obviously hurt by what he said.
After he said that he mentally slapped himself because he knew that he should be more sensitive to her after what she has been through.
"No…wait…what I mean is that, he doesn't deserve you because the type of person he is and the type of person you are!"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Juliet said clearly offended.
Just then, their food arrived.
Had he done it this time…Carlton knew he was digging a bigger hole for himself, so he had to find a way out.
"What I mean is that…" Carlton looked around the room for the right words to explain what he meant, "that…he doesn't deserve you because he doesn't take anything serious…he doesn't even take a murder scene seriously! So how could he ever take a relationship seriously? An-and I just think you deserve better…that's all."
Carlton finished by shoving a huge amount of food into his mouth to make him stop talking because not only did he think he made Juliet mad, but he felt quite embarrassed as well.
Juliet pondered few a few second what Carlton said and then asked, "Well what kind of person do you think I deserve then?"
Crap! What have I done!Carlton thought.
After he finished swallowing, he cleared his throat a couple of times and then began to answer her question.
"Well, I...I. Think that you deserve someone who takes life more seriously...but who can still have fun...and...someone who will do anything for you, and a person you can trust with your life...BUT, I'm not saying it's me or anything because I literally did save your life, but you get what I'm saying. Anyway, you just deserve so much better because I know that any guy who tries to get with you will HAVE to go through me first because I don't want you to have some lame-ass idiot who doesn't know how special you are."
Juliet was touched by what Carlton said. Even if he didn't say what all was on his mind, she knew that he really did care for her.
She reached over the table and gently squeezed his arm.
"Thanks Carlton..."
Looking back at Juliet, Carlton gave her a smile back in response.
Dinner went on for another hour when Carlton and Juliet headed back to her house.